Kent College Prep School

A picturesque prep that offers excellent facilities, community atmosphere and a Methodist ethos, giving pupils a fantastic – and very outdoorsy – start to life. A great one-stop offering with some of the best wraparound care we’ve come across and a high hit rate to Kent’s brilliant grammar schools (as well as the option to move seamlessly to Kent College’s own senior school), it’s set to reach new heights in September 2026 when the school throws open its doors to boys the whole way through the school, beginning the transition to becoming fully co-ed all the way to 18.

Sharing its 75-acre site with Kent College Senior School, Kent College Prep sits on the leafy outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. It exudes rural charm, ringed by rolling hills and woodland, and while its modern main site lies at the bottom of a hill, the senior-school buildings are nestled above. The two schools are closely integrated, and prep pupils regularly cross the grounds to make use of the senior facilities.

Road links from the local village, Pembury, to Sevenoaks and surrounding villages are good, and the school offers a variety of bus routes to and from the school gates.

‘Success without stress’ is head Salli Hall’s approach. Utterly charming, she has been at the school since 2008, stepping into the head role in 2021. She clearly finds a huge amount of joy in her job: ‘I really like working here. The principles and the ethos are my own family values.’ One of the things that Mrs Hall has worked hard to strengthen the connection with the senior school just up the hill; both are grounded in the same Methodist ethos, which prioritises doing good.  

The school is gently selective and the catchment is wide, stretching from Sevenoaks towards Maidstone. As of September 2026, boys will be able to join all year groups (the prep is already co-ed) and carry on all the way up through the senior school. Assessments involve taster days where applicants are observed in class, and pupils entering in Year 3 and upwards also sit an online assessment.

The ground floor of the main prep building is home to reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Reception pupils are based in two classrooms, with one dedicated to more formal learning (phonics is a particular strong point here, with work done daily) and the other used for breakout groups. Upstairs, meanwhile, is reserved for Years 3 to 6, with specialist teaching in drama, music, PE and French (Spanish too, once pupils hit Year 6). There are never more than 20 children in a class – they’re a wonderfully confident bunch, and we were struck by their strong rapport with their teachers.

Each year, about 50 per cent of pupils go on to grammar schools in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, while the others head up the hill to Kent College Senior School. A particular point of pride with Mrs Hall is how ready Year 6 pupils are for this next stage: ‘The children leave at the end of Year 6 knowing how to organise their own kit and homework. The transition is very smooth.’

The quality of forest school is a particular selling point. Impressively, the school has two qualified forest-school leaders who hold weekly hour-long sessions in the woods for every age group from nursery to Year 6 (little ones even wear special tracksuits with ‘I’m a Forest Explorer’ written on the back), and in Years 5 and 6, students are able to use the school zip wire, balance beams, climbing wall, scramble net and a swing that hangs over a big puddle of water. The outdoor philosophy here is all about building confidence and encouraging pupils to have a go, with children donning hard hats and learning to work as a team. There’s also a mega outdoor pirate ship just waiting to be scrambled over.

Sport is a big deal too, with a huge range on offer including football, hockey, rugby, cricket, swimming, netball, tennis and gymnastics. There’s a slick 25-metre six-lane pool that all pupils use weekly, and the site also has an Astro, netball courts (which turn into tennis courts in the summer) and two sports halls. 

Drama lessons take place up the hill in the senior school’s theatre, and the joined-up approach goes even further: the recent production of Carnival of the Animals included pupils from every year group, from nursery to Year 13. Like drama, music is also based on the senior-school site, with 60 per cent of pupils taking instrument or singing lessons. There’s a choir, orchestra and several ensembles, along with the regular Cakes and Concerto concerts, where practice is the only criterion for taking part. ‘There are no barriers to being who you want to be here,’ says Mrs Hall.

Clubs include traditional as well as more alternative options. Among the latter is the iPad Gurus club, where children have access to an iPad and a green screen to create their own films. Mrs Hall runs the Young Entrepreneurs Club where, with a kitty of £10 for raw materials, pupils conduct market research and risk management, then develop and sell their product to their peers. All profits are donated to charity.

Pastoral care takes a celebratory approach at Kent College Prep with awards such as Player of the Week and Star of the Week, as well as privilege cards for good manners, plus – our favourite – badges recognising acts of kindness. Rewards are well pitched, with privilege-card holders enjoying their own special lunch – and outstanding manners don’t go unnoticed. ‘To feel safe and valued in school is very, very important,’  Mrs Hall tells us. A buddy system adds a nice touch, pairing pupils to take part in activities together, such as reading or playing with Lego.

Wraparound care is comprehensive and some of the best we’ve seen. Even better, you can sign up for it on the day itself.  A handy pre-rush-hour breakfast club begins at 7.30am, and from there the school can look after pupils until 7.30pm (or until 5pm for two-year-olds). After standard hours, there’s homework club for Years 3 to 6 and after-school care otherwise, but everyone knocks off together at 5.30pm for supper club. After that, pupils move to the boarding house until 7.30pm. With most families having two working parents, it’s no surprise that this provision is popular.

The school is very welcoming to parents, encouraging them to visit and watch a lesson, show or concert at least every half term. The PTA – the Kent College Prep Parents’ Association  – is very active, tirelessly raising money for new playground equipment or lovely touches such as a new buddy bench.

With boys able to join any age group from September 2026, Kent College Prep will soon be giving all pupils a premium start to life. They’ll leave with muddy wellies, clever heads and beautiful manners.